SICI FE28R Keelboat Regatta by Standard Insurance
by Philippines Sailing Assoc 18 Dec 2022 19:46 PST
10-11 December 2022
SICI FE28R Keelboat Regatta by Standard Insurance © PSA
After almost three years on the hardstand located at the Water Craft Venture, FarEast 28R boats have finally got back in the water just a week before the regatta started. That week was for the participants to be able to practice their crew work, get a feel for the boat, and do a bit of tuning! It took a whole month for the PSA team to check out everything on the boats that could have been damaged by long-time inactivity, starting with the sails and then the 6HP outboard engine, the rigging, and the lifelines. Three boats out of 10 had broken lifelines on account of rust. Also affected were the cradles, which had to fixed while the boats were in the water.
The SICI FE28R Keelboat Regatta is organized by the Philippine Sailing Association and supported by Subic Bay Yacht Club through the effort of Marina Marketing Manager Barry Alvarado, the Watercraft Venture, SBMA Tourism and the Philippine Coast Guard. The events lone sponsor is the Standard Insurance Co., Inc. lead by the Chairman himself, Ernesto Echauz.
Participants
PSA 1 - Ridgely Balladares
PSA 2 - Emerson Villena
STANDARD INSURANCE 1 - Lauro Perfectua
STANDARD INSURANCE 2 - Bernard Floren
WINDSHEAR - George Hacket
BELA TRIX - Maria Vidoeira
SUBIC SAILING - Marcus Avecilla
WATERCRAFT - Ricky Sandoval
TOYOTA ALPHARD - James Villareal
Light breeze from the NNW greeted the sailors as we arrived at the race course. There must have been an over-abundance of adrenaline and excitement in play, as three boats were OCS and only found out at the finish! As the sun heated up the land, the breeze built up enough to create broaches in the races three and five. Out repairman was kept very busy fixing up torn spinnakers and other repairs such as broken tiller extensions. ller. After the first day of racing (5 races) the leader on the scoreboard was team PSA 1 lead by Ridgely Balladares, followed by team PSA 2 (Emerson Villena) and then team Windshear helmed by George Hacket, just two points ahead of Maria Vidoeira’s team Belatrix in fourth place.
Some cases of engine failure yesterday prompted RO Jerry Rollin to order tows to get the boats out onto the race course on the second day. Steady breeze coming from the same direction as day 1 was blowing around the race course when the first warning signal sounded. That became a General Recall because most of the competitor were OCS, and there was even an OCS in the re-start - PSA Team 1.
There was a healthy 6-12 knots everywhere for all three races on day 2, and plenty of intense action at the start line and the leeward mark, whereall the boats arrived together and led to plenty of shouting as they looked for the perfect gap to open up so that they could squeeze in. George Hacket (Team Windshear) filed no less than three protests, one of which was thrown out and the other two awarded by the 4-man protest committee chaired by Edmund Umali.
After protests were heard, PSA 1 was at the top of the leader board, with PSA 2 in second even after being protested, and chased by Team Standard Insurance 2 (Bernard Floren, who is among the PSA coaches preparing SEA Games-bound athletes for Cambodia this coming May 2023).
Asian food and beverages were served during the awards ceremony, and packed lunches and drinks distributed on the water. There were no entry fees, and no damage deposits, all thanks to the sponsor, Standard Insurance Co., Inc.
See you all in the next FE28R regatta in February 2023!